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The Utah Jazz might not be winning a ton of games this season, but in the process of that regular season grind, eyes will be locked onto how fifth-overall pick from this summer’s draft, Ace Bailey, pans out in his first year on the scene.

Through two full preseason showings, he’s already off to a hot start–– posting 20-plus points in both while shooting over 70% from the field, presenting a vast offensive skillset that proves he could be a high impact player in his first year pro.

And when asking ESPN’s Zach Kram, he seems to agree with that sentiment on Bailey, who, in the process of handing out one bold prediction to each team for the season ahead, didn’t hold back on his high hopes for the Jazz rookie.

“Ace Bailey will lead all rookies in scoring,” Kram predicted.

“That doesn’t mean he’ll make anywhere near the same all-around impact as Flagg, but as a starter for a bad team with a shoot-first mindset, Bailey will have the opportunity to rack up bushels of points. Bailey’s 45 points across his first two preseason games showed his potential as a first-year scorer.”

The idea of one of this draft class’ best offensive engines becoming the leader among all rookies in scoring wouldn’t too shocking to see on paper, but what are the odds that Bailey actually does it?

The opportunity is there. Multiple pieces of last year’s roster, like Collin Sexton, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson, are out of the fold to extend the responsibility of guys like Bailey and other young names on the roster. Bailey, with his high draft stock and high ceiling, could cling onto those open shot opportunities quickly, and if he catches fire quickly, it might snowball into a big rookie season.

However, the bigger question for Bailey centers around whether he can overcome his surrounding class, which is filled with other high-potential guys that could make a similar year one dent in their respective situations.

Of course, Cooper Flagg with the Dallas Mavericks will claim a large share of that attention, but on a roster next to Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and eventually Kyrie Irving, the shot volume isn’t quite as high as what Bailey could have.

Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe could get a good amount of looks their way as well, but with a top-tier guard-center duo on each of their squads, becoming the leading scorer among this rookie class could be high hopes.

Bailey, though, has the perfect combination of talent and the opportunity to make it happen.

That relies on the Jazz and head coach Will Hardy to rely on and bank on their young talent more early and often than they’ve seen through the first three seasons of their rebuild. But if done right, there’s absolutely a chance for Utah’s rookie to come out of the gates firing, even if the win-loss record doesn’t have that same appeal.

Be sure to bookmark Utah Jazz On SI and follow @JazzOnSI on X to stay up-to-date on daily Utah Jazz news, interviews, breakdowns and more!

BYU fans rushing the field Saturday night after the Cougars’ 24-21 win over Utah was tons of fun — but expensive.

The Big 12 typically fines schools for their fans running onto the field to attempt to prevent such a scene from taking place, with concerns of safety, security and sportsmanship cited as reasons for such a punishment.

Despite this, BYU fans stormed the field anyway, with a sea of royal blue joyfully flooding the LaVell Edwards Stadium field to celebrate a third-straight victory over the Utes.

“I don’t know that we were going to keep them off the field tonight,” BYU safety Tanner Wall said after the game. “We already got someone ready to pay the fine, so we’re good; don’t worry about that.”

That someone was Jason McGowan, co-founder and CEO of famed cookie company Crumbl.

In a video from BYU’s locker room posted to X by McGowan, Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake told his players McGowan would be covering the fine himself, which incited cheers from the team.

“Was happy to do it,” McGowan wrote in an X post. “Got to celebrate them wins. Go Cougs!”

The field rush was BYU’s first since defeating No. 9 Baylor in 2022. When the Cougars snapped a nine-game losing streak to Utah back in 2021, fans stormed the field in perhaps the most emotionally-charged fashion yet.

Because BYU was an independent program during its past field rush occurrences, there was no fine associated with fans on the field.

When Arizona State fans poured onto the field last year after beating BYU, the Big 12 fined the school $25,000.

Just a few weeks ago, the conference fined Colorado $50,000 for a field storm, only to rescind the fine after it became clear Colorado had “executed its field storm management procedures,” according to a statement from a school spokesperson.

As for BYU, the public address announcer did tell fans to stay off the Edwards Stadium field, but Cougar Nation prevailed in breaking through to create a memorable scene.

Even BYU President Shane Reese got into the fun, as students lifted him into the air to crowd surf — something Reese appeared to enjoy a great deal.

“During the BYU game, our CEO, Jason McGowan, was on the field watching the game and saw how excited the fans were. When he learned that no one would be allowed to go onto the field, he offered to personally pay the fine so everyone could celebrate together,” Crumbl said in a statement provided to KSL Sports. “Jason has built his career around creating meaningful moments and he didn’t want to miss the chance to help his fellow Cougar fans enjoy one.”

SALT LAKE CITY — SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Rhode Island man who appeared to fake his death and flee the United States to avoid rape charges is scheduled to be sentenced Monday on one of two rape convictions in Utah.

Nicholas Rossi, 38, faces between five years and life in prison when sentenced Monday by District Judge Barry Lawrence in Salt Lake City.

The sentence is the first of two scheduled for Rossi after he was convicted separately in August and September of raping two women in northern Utah in 2008. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 4 for the second conviction, also for five years to life in prison.

In August, jurors found Rossi guilty of rape after a three-day trial in which his accuser and her parents each took the stand. Rossi did not testify on his own behalf.

It took more than a decade from the time of the rapes to his convictions. Utah authorities began searching for Rossi, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, when he was identified in 2018 through a decade-old DNA rape kit tied to the other case. He was among thousands of rape suspects identified and later charged when Utah made a push to clear its rape kit backlog.

Months after he was charged in that case, an online obituary claimed Rossi died on Feb. 29, 2020, of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But police in his home state of Rhode Island, along with his former lawyer and a former foster family, cast doubt on whether he was dead.

He was arrested in Scotland the following year while receiving treatment for COVID-19. Hospital staff recognized his distinctive tattoos — including the crest of Brown University inked on his shoulder, although he never attended — from an Interpol notice.

He was extradited to Utah in January 2024 after a protracted court battle. At the time, Rossi insisted he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight who was being framed. Investigators say they identified at least a dozen aliases Rossi used over the years to evade capture.

In his first Utah trial, Rossi’s public defender denied the rape claim and urged jurors not to read too much into his move overseas.

The victim had been living with her parents and recovering from a traumatic brain injury in 2008 when she responded to a personal ad Rossi posted on Craigslist. They began dating and were engaged within a couple weeks.

She testified that Rossi asked her to pay for dates and car repairs, lend him $1,000 so he wouldn’t be evicted, and take on debt to buy their engagement rings. He grew hostile soon after their engagement and raped her in his bedroom one night after she drove him home, she said.

She went to police years later after hearing Rossi was accused of raping another woman in Utah around the same time.

The victim in that case went to police soon after Rossi attacked her at his apartment in Orem. The woman had gone there to collect money she said he stole from her to buy a computer.

Rossi grew up in foster homes in Rhode Island and returned there before he appeared to fake his death and flee the country. He was previously wanted in the state for failing to register as a sex offender. The FBI says he also faces fraud charges in Ohio, where he was convicted of sex-related charges in 2008.

___

Gruver reported from Ft. Collins, Colorado.

During the Utah Jazz‘s final preseason game of four against the Portland Trail Blazers, the night was an impressive one for two-way guard Elijah Harkless.

Not because he popped off on the stat sheet, but because of his role as a top-tier defender on the floor.

Harkless came away with two steals on the night, drew multiple fouls, and ultimately played with high intensity on the defensive end for the short stint that he was on the floor–– a trait that the Jazz’s defense could certainly use across the season ahead following their dreary results on that end of the floor for the past two years.

And when asking Harkless himself, he’s clearly confident in what he can bring to the Jazz on that end of the floor.

“I am the best defender on the team,” Harkless said. “Putting my audition in for the best defender in the league.”

Harkless traces his standout ability to defend back to when he was playing pickup as a younger kid, a trait that’s stuck with him into his pro career.

“It comes from just being a young guy, playing pickup back in the day,” Harkless said. “I had to play defense, to kind of even get a shot. So kind of the same thing here, just coming in, providing some defense intensity for the team.”

Harkless, the 6-foot-4, 25-year-old guard, isn’t the most standout athlete or lengthy defender that catches your attention, but it’s the intensity he plays with that’s gotten him to the point he’s at now.

The second-year guard even landed some attention from Jazz big man Walker Kessler following the events of their preseason win vs. Portland, crediting the second-year guard as a “fearless” defender.

“He’s a fearless, fearless defender,” Kessler said. “I think he drew probably two offensive fouls and screens. Fearless, I think that’s a great way to describe him, and it’s definitely fun to play with a guy like that… His defense is, I mean, anyone can see it, it’s truly inspiring. I know it’s a preseason game, but you’re into it because of plays like that.”

For the most of this season, Harkless will likely remain with the Salt Lake City Stars along with other two-way signees John Tonje and Oscar Tshiebwe, but in his preseason sample size, he might’ve proven worthy to get a chance to crack the rotation later down the line this year.

Minutes in this young rotation filled with first round picks might be hard to come by, yet his intensity could land an extra look or two his way from the coaching staff.

Time will tell what capacity Harkless will be on the floor for the Jazz this season, but whenever he gets that opportunity, expect the effort to be at a 110%.

Be sure to bookmark Utah Jazz On SI and follow @JazzOnSI on X to stay up-to-date on daily Utah Jazz news, interviews, breakdowns and more!

Adoptees wrestle often with “what-ifs.” What if my birth mother had kept me? What if I had been raised in her family? What if she’s trying to find me?

As an adopted child, these questions ran constantly through my head, affecting my sense of worth and causing anxiety and suicidal ideations. Only after I met my birth mother as an adult and learned my origin story did this train of thought settle.

Now I’m pondering other what-ifs as details about Utah’s “adoption tourism” come to light and lawmakers consider curbing the practice of transporting out-of-state pregnant women into Utah to facilitate adoptions. These adoptions parallel my own — an unethical placement that should not have been allowed.

Like many hopeful parents traveling to Utah to adopt, my parents crossed state lines to adopt me, where access to adoptable infants was quicker and laws more advantageous. What if they had put more thought into the ethical lines being crossed?

Similar to many expectant moms lured to Utah, my birth mom encountered professionals who didn’t have her best interests at heart. Her obstetrician was known as “the go-to guy for unwed mothers” and a colleague of my adoptive uncle’s. Despite his duty to prioritize my mother as his patient, the doctor’s care was biased. What if state laws recognized that he was acting as a broker? What if my private adoption had been seen as a public child welfare issue?

Like many mothers who initially make an adoption plan, my mother decided to parent me after I was born. But like mothers isolated from their families and supports when brought to Utah, she was alone and defenseless when the obstetrician pressured her toward adoption. “I don’t care about you. We’re done taking care of you,” he said. “But that baby’s not going anywhere until you come to your senses.” What if the care extended to my birth mother wasn’t contingent upon her relinquishing her baby? What if she wasn’t treated as a disposable vessel?

I was brought to my adoptive parents in the middle of the night by a lawyer who represented my adoptive parents. What if my birth mother had her own attorney giving her the informed consent necessary to make a sound decision? Would her lawyer have raised concerns over her infant being seized in the night?

My adoptive parents’ travel from another state compressed the timeline of my adoption, as it does for those flying into Utah to adopt. Thus, my mother was pressured to sign papers almost immediately after giving birth — during a time that’s important for recovery, bonding with a newborn and regaining coherence. What if my birth mother had been legally protected from signing adoption consents during this crucial time? Would we have both benefitted from the bonding process?

During our first call, my birth mother expressed sorrow for not getting me back. She and my grandmother kept diapers in their purses for weeks after my placement, praying for miracles. What if my mother had been given a reasonable legal time period to revoke the adoption before it became final? What if someone helped her find resources so her desire to raise me could have been honored?

These questions reflect the strong emotional ramifications inherent in adoption. And they stem from straightforward legal processes and adoption policies that can and should be reformed.

In August, legislators convened for a hearing over bill language related to the Utah Adoption Act. While I may never get satisfying answers to my what-ifs, Utah Adoption Rights proposed recommendations for policy considerations in the bill file that would circumvent exploitative adoption practices. These include allowing the revocation of consent based on fraud and extending the consent waiting period to 36 hours post-birth. They also recommended strengthening laws that prohibit unlicensed intermediaries and requiring free, separate legal representation for all expectant mothers. These recommendations, among others, would dissuade predatory practices in Utah, the only state in the nation with adoption agencies bringing in out-of-state mothers en masse.

What if we work together to stop Utah from preying on mothers and being a national shopping ground for children? What if anyone considering adoption is safe, informed and empowered about her options, the adoption process and her rights?

What if the public called their legislators in support of these changes?

The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Saturday’s game between No. 15 BYU and No. 23 Utah. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final score

No. 15 BYU 24, No. 23 Utah 21

Make that three straight wins in the BYU-Utah rivalry for the Cougars.

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Bear Bachmeier gave BYU a 10-point lead with 4:22 to play, taking a QB draw up the middle and fighting his way for a 22-yard touchdown run.

That ended up being the game-clincher, as the No. 15 Cougars topped the No. 23 Utes in only the fourth matchup in the rivalry

That came after Utah briefly took the lead in the first minute of the fourth quarter on a 49-yard Daniel Bray touchdown run to go up 14-10.

The Cougars responded with a scoring drive of their own, retaking the lead at 17-14 on a Parker Kingston 12-yard run.

Then, after a critical Tanner Wall interception on the ensuing drive, Bachmeier scored the momentum-building touchdown to finally make it a double-digit game.

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Utah added a late touchdown to make it interesting.

The Utes lost despite outgaining BYU in total yards, 470 to 370.

Utah lost the turnover battle, 2-0, and was 1 of 5 on fourth down plays, which included coming up short twice in the red zone.

Fourth quarter

BYU 24, Utah 21

1:24 — Utah still has life, thanks to a 71-yard touchdown drive that finished with Larry Simmons catching a 2-yard touchdown. BYU 24, Utah 21.

JJ Buchanan made an incredible 31-yard catch to start the possession, and the Utes were aided by a few BYU penalties to extend the drive.

4:22 — Bear Bachmeier put BYU on his back — as well as a handful of Utah defenders — to give the Cougars their first double-digit lead of the night.

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Facing a third-and-10 Bachmeier took a QB drew up the middle and muscled his way for a 22-yard touchdown, as the Cougars again capitalized on a Utah turnover. BYU 24, Utah 14.

9:24 — The Cougars forced their second turnover of the game, this time courtesy of the defense.

Tanner Wall went high over the intended receiver, Daniel Bray, to pick off a deep Devon Dampier pass, giving BYU the ball at its own 36 and with a three-point lead.

11:19 — BYU had an answer for Utah’s touchdown, scoring its first touchdown since the second quarter.

Parker Kingston put the Cougars back ahead with a 12-yard touchdown run, capping an 81-yard drive that was aided by a targeting penalty on Utah linebacker Lander Barton. BYU 17, Utah 14.

Barton was ejected for the targeting call. That’s a big loss for the Utes’ defense, and on the next play was when Kingston scored.

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14:11 — Utah is in front for the first time tonight, thanks to one of its freshman sensations.

The speedy Daniel Bray broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run, capping a 90-yard, nine-play drive for Utah’s second touchdown of the night. Utah 14, BYU 10.

Third quarter

BYU 10, Utah 7

8:47 — BYU came up with another fourth-down stop inside the red zone.

Utah marched the ball down inside the 20 and opted to go for it on a fourth-and-8 from the Cougars 8. Devon Dampier gained 2 yards on the QB draw, but it came up short and cost the Utes another scoring opportunity.

Halftime

BYU 10, Utah 7

The predictions that this one would be close are proving true.

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Both teams have a long touchdown drive, and BYU capitalized on a Utah turnover to score three points in the first half’s final seconds to go back ahead.

The Utes have 238 yards of total offense to 184 for BYU, with Utah owning a 142-86 edge in rushing yards.

The defenses have played well on both sides — BYU and Utah have both been stopped on fourth-down attempts — but the Utes been a bit more sloppy. Utah has the game’s only turnover and has six penalties for 29 yards, while the Cougars haven’t been flagged for a penalty yet.

Second quarter

BYU 10, Utah 7

0:03 — BYU is back on top, after Will Ferrin hit a 26-yard field goal. BYU 10, Utah 7.

The Cougars drove 33 yards after a Utah turnover and needed a fourth-down conversion inside the 15, but BYU is back in the lead.

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2:21 — We have the first turnover of the game, and BYU is the benefactor.

Mana Carvalho muffed a punt and BYU recovered at the Utah 40, setting the Cougars up in prime position. Talan Alfrey came up with the recovery for BYU.

3:24 — Utah has tied it up with an impressive nine-play, 85-yard drive, capping it with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Davis. BYU 7, Utah 7.

Devon Dampier hit Larry Simmons on the sideline for a 24-yard gain to the BYU 34 on third-and-9 to keep the drive alive.

9:11 — BYU got another fourth-down stop. This time, Devon Dampier threw incomplete to the outside with the Utes facing a fourth-and-7 at the BYU 28.

Originally, Utah sent out the kicking unit but BYU took a timeout before the snap. Then the Utes changed tactics and brought out the offense.

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13:37 — The Cougars are on the board first.

BYU capped an impressive six-play, 81-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Chase Roberts. BYU 7, Utah 0.

Bear Bachmeier completed two passes for 43 yards and ran for another 14 yards — a play that included a highlight-worthy hurdle — on the scoring drive.

First quarter

BYU 0, Utah 0

2:38 — Now Utah has a fourth-down stop of its own.

After Bear Bachmeier picked up 13 yards on third-and-14 to set up a fourth-and-short at the Utah 32, LJ Martin was stopped for no gain, leading to a turnover on downs.

6:50 — BYU came up with a big stop inside the red zone, as Mory Bamba dropped Daniel Bray for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Cougars’ 12.

Utah drove 84 yards on its opening possession but came up empty.

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BYU now gets the ball back after its first drive ended on its side of the field.

How to watch the game

The rivalry game between No. 15 BYU and No. 23 Utah will be televised on Fox and will be livestreamed on foxsports.com/live. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. MDT.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get you ready for the rivalry game between the Utes and Cougars.

Three has come.

BYU earned its third consecutive rivalry win over Utah Saturday night in Provo, coming alive late to remain unbeaten and hand the Utes their second loss of the season.

3 takeaways

BYU stepped up in the fourth quarter. After surrendering a touchdown with just over 14 minutes left to play to give Utah the lead, the Cougars put their shoulder to the wheel over the next 11 minutes and change to pry the game back into their grasp.

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Here’s how it went down:

• Parker Kingston ran for a touchdown to put the Cougars ahead for good.
• Tanner Wall intercepted Devon Dampier to thwart a Utah rally.
• Bear Bachmeier found the end zone on a 3rd and long to add insurance for BYU.
• Jack Kelly sacked Dampier on fourth down to give the Cougars the ball back.

Utah added a late touchdown to create some final drama, but a failed onside kick ended any hopes of a miracle finish for the Utes.

When the stakes were highest and plays needed to be made, the Cougars made it happen, just like they have all season long.

BYU’s safeties were everywhere. The Cougar defense has been carried by its linebackers throughout 2025, but safeties Tanner Wall and Faletau Satuala played hero on Saturday night.

Satuala led the team with 12 tackles — eight solo — while adding a forced fumble, pass breakup and tackle for loss.

Wall had 10 tackles — seven solo — and intercepted Dampier in the fourth quarter for the defensive play of the night.

BYU’s defense was largely excellent in making Dampier’s life difficult, and Satuala and Wall were major pieces to such an operation.

Another safety, Talan Alfrey, made a critical play on special teams to recover a muffed Utah punt and regain possession for the Cougars.

The Cougars made history. For the first time since the Ty Detmer era, BYU has defeated Utah in three straight matchups.

Not since 1989-92 had the Cougars claimed rivalry superiority over the Utes for three years or more.

Sitake’s squad accomplished such a feat in 2025 by forcing two Utah turnovers, holding the Utes to a 1 of 5 mark on fourth down, winning the discipline battle with fewer turnovers and going 4 for 4 on red zone trips.

And thus, BYU moves to 7-0 on the year as the only unbeaten squad remaining in the Big 12.